Boeing EA-18G Growlers Deployed by U.S. Navy

Boeing EA-18G Growlers Deployed by US NavyUNITED STATES - 17 FEBRUARY 2011

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 17, 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft have been deployed for the first time by the U.S. Navy.

"The men and women of Boeing are honored to see this new capability directly benefit the nationâ€™s brave servicemembers around the world," said Kory Mathews, vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs for Boeing. "The airborne electronic attack capability that the EA-18G brings to the fight is in high demand, so we are committed to continuing to deliver these aircraft to the Navy on budget and on schedule, just as we have with every F/A-18E/F."

The EA-18G is the only air combat platform that delivers full-spectrum airborne electronic attack (AEA) capability along with the targeting and self-defense capabilities derived from the Navy's frontline fighter, the F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet. A derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Block II, the EA-18G's highly flexible design enables warfighters to operate either from the deck of an aircraft carrier or from land-based airfields. It is replacing the Navy's current AEA platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971. The EA-18G joined the Navy's aircraft fleet in 2008, when it was introduced to fleet training squadron VAQ-129.

Boeing, acting as the weapon system integrator and prime contractor, leads the EA-18G Growler industry team, which also includes Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and General Electric Aircraft Engines.

The EA-18G, currently being delivered to the U.S. Navy, will be the cornerstone of the naval Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) mission. Derived from the combat proven F/A-18F aircraft, the EA-18G incorporates advanced AEA avionics bringing transformational capability for suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and non-traditional electronic attack operations.

EA-18G Capabilities:

Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses: The EA-18G will counter enemy air defenses using both reactive and pre-emptive jamming techniques.

Stand-off and Escort Jamming: The EA-18G will be highly effective in the traditional stand-off jamming mission, but with the speed and agility of a Super Hornet, it will also be effective in the escort role.

Non-Traditional Electronic Attack: Dramatically enhanced situational awareness and uninterrupted communications will enable the EA-18G to achieve a higher degree of integration with ground operations than has been previously achievable.

Self-protect and Time-Critical Strike Support: With its Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, digital data links and air-to-air missiles, the EA-18G will have self-protection capability and will also be effective for target identification and prosecution.

Growth: High commonality with the F/A-18E/F, nine available weapon stations and modern avionics enable cost-effective synergistic growth for both aircraft, setting the stage for continuous capability enhancement.

Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) Capabilities:

Full Spectrum: The EA-18G's ALQ-218 wideband receiver combined with the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System will be effective against any radar-guided surface-to-air threat.

Precision Airborne Electronic Attack: Selective-reactive technology enables the EA-18G to rapidly sense and locate threats with a significantly higher degree of accuracy than was previously possible. This improved accuracy enables greater concentration of energy against threats.

Advanced Communication Countermeasures: Its modular ALQ-227 Communication Countermeasure Set enables the EA-18G to counter a wide range of communication systems and is readily adaptable to an ever-changing threat spectrum.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 2, 2011 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has delivered its 250th APG-79 active electronically scanned array radar to Boeing. The APG-79 radar is flown on U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft, and on the Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet.

"As we recognize this milestone of the 250th APG-79 AESA delivery, it is also significant to note that 85 radar systems were completed for the U.S. Navy in just the last 12 months," said Eric Ditmars, F/A-18 program director, Tactical Airborne Systems. "The APG-79 radar has revolutionized fighter combat capabilities and dramatically improved situational awareness for aircrews. This combat-proven, advanced radar technology also has logged more than 175,000 operational flight hours."

The APG-79 AESA hardware offers 10-15 times greater reliability than mechanically scanned array radars, which results in lower life-cycle costs. In addition, it provides capabilities that allow warfighters to detect and identify targets beyond the reach of most missiles. The APG-79 AESA radar is in operation with more than a dozen U.S. Navy squadrons. Internationally, the Royal Australian Air Force received the radar system in 2010, marking the delivery of the first foreign military sale of Super Hornets equipped with the APG-79.

The AN/APG-79 AESA radar system represents a significant advance in radar technology. Entirely new from front-end array to back-end processor and operational software, the system substantially increases the power of the U.S. Navyâ€™s F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, making it more lethal and less vulnerable than ever before.

With its active electronic beam scanning â€” which allows the radar beam to be steered at nearly the speed of light â€” the APG-79 optimizes situational awareness and provides superior air-to-air and air-to-ground capability. The agile beam enables the radarâ€™s air-to-air and air-to-ground modes to interleave in near-real time, so that pilot and crew can use both modes simultaneously, an unprecedented technological leap.

Now in full rate production for the Navy, the APG-79 demonstrates reliability, image resolution, and targeting and tracking range significantly greater than that of the current F/A-18 radar. With its open systems architecture and compact, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) parts, it delivers dramatically increased capability in a smaller, lighter package. The array is composed of numerous solid-state transmit and receive modules to virtually eliminate mechanical breakdown. Other system components include an advanced receiver/exciter, ruggedized COTS processor, and power supplies.

Sorry for going a bit OT but is it possible/practical l to make an EW version of the MiG-29K for carrier-borne operations?

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No country as of today can create an aircraft like the Growler. Perhaps on an aircraft like Emb-145 or Saab-2000 is possible and has been done before. Miniaturization of many critical systems will be required along with endless number of wires. We can focus on smaller capabilities for now and do something like the Growler or the NGJ on F-35 after we get our AMCA.

Also what are the primary EW aircrafts operated by the IAF?

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As of 2006 we had some Canberras for EW. Right now it is unknown. Perhaps we have some An-32 platform acting as an EW aircraft, I don't know. It is all secret. :thumb: